'Against Jovinianus' Summary

Against Jovinianus is a theological treatise written by Saint Jerome in 393 AD in response to the teachings of Jovinianus, a Christian monk who held controversial views on marriage, virginity, and the nature of sin. Jerome's work is a passionate defense of traditional Christian beliefs and practices, and it provides valuable insights into the theological debates of the early Church. Jovinianus denied the superiority of virginity over marriage, argued that all sins are equal, and denied the possibility of post-baptismal sin. Jerome, on the other hand, argued that virginity is a higher calling than marriage, that some sins are more serious than others, and that it is possible for baptized Christians to sin. Jerome's treatise is divided into two books. The first book is devoted to a discussion of marriage and virginity. Jerome argues that virginity is a higher calling than marriage because it allows Christians to focus more fully on God. He also argues that marriage is not inherently sinful, but that it is a lower calling than virginity. The second book of Against Jovinianus is devoted to a discussion of sin. Jerome argues that all sins are not equal, and that some sins are more serious than others. He also argues that it is possible for baptized Christians to sin, but that such sins are more serious than sins committed by unbaptized people. Against Jovinianus is a valuable resource for understanding the theological debates of the early Church. Jerome's passionate defense of traditional Christian beliefs and practices provides a glimpse into the beliefs and values of the early Church.